Technology Inclusion Project Updates
January 2010
All 27 TIP teachers who selected assistive technology equipment for their classrooms in early November came to SET-BC for training on Jan. 11th. SET-BC would like to thank these teachers for giving their time and energy to this project.
The full day training event began with Anne Johnson and Jamie Crum from TIP project partner Mayer Johnson . They provided an advanced level hands on session on Boardmaker Plus and demonstrated the new mobile activity player Mobile Activity Player - touchscreen computer | DynaVox Mayer-Johnson. Teachers learned how to use Boardmaker Plus and it’s picture based symbol system to create communication boards and also learning and literacy activities.
The communication theme continued throughout the morning with SET-BC SLP's Yvonne Green and Lorraine Kamp demonstrating how the communication technologies provided in the project can be used to facilitate student communication, choice making and active participation.
In the afternoon , teachers circulated through computer stations learning the features of switch software programs. SET-BC consultants Connie Bentley and Suzanne Harwood provided tips, strategies and resources to help teachers effectively use switches and switch software.
Overviews of Clicker 5 and Classroom Suite 4 software by SET-BC consultants Daphne Mercier and Yvonne Green completed the day with teachers learning software features and where they can access relevant resources and readymade activities in the SET-BC learning centre at the SET-BC website.
TIP project partner CanAssist is developing training materials for the switch adapted ipods each TIP classroom has received.
Oct. 23, 2009 Update
The Technology Inclusion Project (TIP) launched on Oct 23rd! The project is fortunate to have a dynamic and passionate group of teachers with a broad range of experience to implement the project goals. The 27 TIP project teachers from around the province attended a project planning and information session held at the SET-BC office in Vancouver on Oct. 23rd.
Susan Blockberger, a recently retired speech and language pathologist from the Richmond school district, provided a great keynote address to open the project. Although, participants in the TIP project will be recipients of many great pieces of assistive technology for their classrooms, Susan reminded us that it’s not really about “the stuff” that you receive, but it’s the importance of establishing clear goals for the use of assistive technology to address the quality of life needs of students with severe disabilities.
Terry Wendorf and Denise Power of the Provincial Integration Support Team followed the keynote and provided the group with an overview of the many great resources and participation kits available at the PISP website (add link). Denise Power an Occupation Therapist on the PISP outreach team demonstrated how low tech solutions can be used to increase the participation and active choice-making of students. Denise also let us all see a working prototype of a switch-adapted iPod Nano from CanAssist which each classroom in the project will receive as part of their equipment order.
In the afternoon, SET-BC consultants Yvonne Green and Lorraine Kamp highlighted how Boardmaker Plus software and the Boardmaker Activity pad can be used to increase communication , participation and choice-making.
Following that, SET-BC consultants Connie Bentley and Suzanne Harwood demonstrated the different types of switch software that are available in the project. They demonstrated the various types of switch scanning and switch options and gave suggestions about where and how you would use these. They also demonstrated Classroom Suite 4 software featuring Linda Burkhart ready-made activities designed for the software.
TIP teachers now have until Nov. 11th to complete their equipment orders and will return to SETBC on Jan. 11th for further training.
May 27, 2009 Update
SETBC’s Technology Inclusion Project (TIP) is designed to help secondary or middle school resource room teachers use assistive technology with students with severe multiple disabilities. Teachers from the following school districts will participate in 2 training days and receive assistive technology tools and resources to help promote active participation for their students
- Vancouver Island –SD 61 Victoria, SD 62 Sooke, SD 63 Saanich, SD 68 Nanaimo, SD 70 Alberni, SD 72 Campbell River
- Lower Mainland –SD 35 Langley, SD 38 Richmond, SD 36 Surrey, SD 37 Delta, SD 39 Vancouver, SD 42 Maple Ridge, SD 43 Coquitlam, SD 44 North Vancouver
- Okanagan – SD 19 Revelstoke, SD 22 Vernon, SD 58 Nicola-Similkameen, SD 67 Okanagan Skaha, SD 73 Kamloops
- Kootenays – SD 5 South East Kootenay, SD 6 Rocky Mountain, SD 8 Kootenay Lake, SD 51 Boundary
- Interior & North Coast – SD 27 Cariboo Chilcotin, SD 28 Quesnel, SD 82 Coast Mountains